Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not seek omens as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.

2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,

3 and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!

6 They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.

7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.

8 God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.

9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”

10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

11 Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me

13 that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I must speak whatever the LORD says.

14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

15 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

18 Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.

19 A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”

21 Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.

22 Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”

23 Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?

24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”

25 Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.

1 ¶ And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding [in his tents] according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:

5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, [and] thy tabernacles, O Israel!

6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, [and] as cedar trees beside the waters.

7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed [shall be] in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce [them] through with his arrows.

9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed [is] he that blesseth thee, and cursed [is] he that curseth thee.

10 ¶ And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed [them] these three times.

11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do [either] good or bad of mine own mind; [but] what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come [therefore, and] I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

15 ¶ And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek [was] the first of the nations; but his latter end [shall be] that he perish for ever.

21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

24 And ships [shall come] from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not after the sorcerers, as he went before, but straightway set his face toward the wilderness,

2 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Israel lying according to their tribes. And the Spirit of God came upon him.

3 And he began his saying, saying, Balaam the son of Beor saith; the man whose eyes are opened saith;

4 It is said by the hearer of divine speech, who sees the revelation of the Almighty, whose eyes are opened when he kneels down:

5 How excellent are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy dwellings, O Israel!

6 How the rivers are spread abroad, as the gardens by the waters, as the tabernacles which the LORD planteth, as the cedars by the waters.

7 Water shall flow out of his bucket, and his seed shall become great waters: his king shall be exalted above Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God hath brought him out of Egypt: his joy is as the joy of a unicorn. He shall devour the heathen, his persecutors, and shall bruise their bones, and shall bruise them with his arrows.

9 He hath laid himself down like a lion, and like a young lion: who will rise up against him? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee!

10 And Balak was wroth in anger against Balaam, and smote his hands together, and said unto him, I charged thee to curse mine enemies: and, behold, thou hast now blessed them thrice.

11 And now lift thee up into thy place. I thought to honour thee, but the LORD hath denied thee honour.

12 Balaam answered him, Did I not also say unto thy messengers, which thou sentest unto me, saying:

13 If Balak had given me his house full of silver and gold, could I not, in the sight of the LORD, choose to do evil or to do good according to my heart? but what the LORD would speak, that would I speak also?

14 And now, behold, if I go unto my people, come, and I will counsel thee what this people shall do unto thy people in the latter days.

15 And he began his saying, saying, Balaam the son of Beor saith; the man whose eyes are opened saith;

16 He that heareth divine words, and hath knowledge of the most High, and seeth the revelation of the Almighty, and his eyes are opened when he kneels down:

17 I will see him, but not now; I will behold him, but not from near. There shall arise a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre out of Israel, and shall smite the princes of Moab, and destroy all the children of Seth.

18 Edom shall he take, and Seir shall be subject unto his enemies: but Israel shall have victory.

19 Out of Jacob shall the ruler come, and shall destroy that is left of the cities.

20 And when he saw the Amalekites, he began his saying, Amalek, the first of the heathen: but at the last thou shalt surely perish.

21 And when he saw the Kenites, he began to speak, saying, Thy dwelling is strong, and thou hast laid thy nest in a rock.

22 But, O Kam, thou shalt be burned when Assyria shall carry thee away captive.

23 And he lifted up his saying again, and said, Ah, who shall live when God shall do these things?

24 And ships out of Chittim shall destroy Assyria and Eber: he also shall perish.

25 And Balaam arose, and went, and returned unto his place: and Balak went his way.